Where to put a motor ?

[pit couture]

I have been working a lot on boards the last two years. I really enjoy it. At first I tough that using a lots of motors would be the thing. Then I realize that is not so much the number of motors but where you place them and how smooth they run.

On my playing field at first I had four motors. It is a field that is 53 x 29 inches. I had one motors place in each endzone and two motors on the 50 yards line opposite two each other. I was never really happy with that setup. Strong rookie base from miggle would run great but speed base from miggle and buzzball would go crazy in center field. I used 12 volt motors and the vibration in center field was a little too much. The sheet of metal was supported at both 40 yards line but still it was bouncing too much. So I took the two center field motors out.

The two remaining motors run much smoother, the speed at low speed is higher but it is so much smoother. The board is better balance that way. The motors are place in the corners of the end zones. No players ever get to run over a motor.

The range of speed between a weak vibration and a really strong vibration is not that big. The important is to find the right balance.

Lately, I have use a 3 volt motor. I was surprise with the power of it. I'm not sure on a big board but on smaller medium size and a 620 board they sure can do the job.